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| Staff Writer |
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Aomori City emphatically clinched the G2 HKJC World Pool Vintage Stakes, marking a notable success for trainer Charlie Appleby, who celebrated his second victory in this event following the triumph of Pinatubo in 2019.
Jockey William Buick executed a perfect tactical ride, settling Aomori City behind the leaders before making his move as the field approached the straight. Switching outside at the cutaway, Aomori City quickened impressively, pulling clear to secure victory by a comfortable length and three-quarters over the fast-finishing Wolf Of Badenoch.
The winner was previously seen making a winning debut at Nottingham and finished third in the Gr.2 July Stakes, laying a strong foundation for today’s performance.
Appleby praised Buick’s judgment, stating, “William decided at the cutaway to angle out, and he was travelling beautifully. When you have a horse with that experience over six furlongs, you can be confident they’ll handle the step up to seven, which proved true today. This was a marked improvement; he showed bravery when tightened on the turns, all valuable education for his future.”
Looking ahead, Appleby hinted at the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf as a possible target for Aomori City, while acknowledging Al Qudra as a serious contender. “We’re keeping all options open for Aomori City. If he maintains this form, we’ll assess our plans closely,” he said.
William Buick echoed the sentiments regarding Aomori City’s ability, revealing, “Being in a good position was always the plan, and despite some tussle for position, he was brave and did what he needed to win. He’s effective over six furlongs and will continue to improve with more experience.”
Wolf Of Badenoch, trained by Hugo Palmer, ran a promising race, finishing strongly after being last turning for home. Palmer said, “I’m absolutely delighted with him. He’s still developing, and the winner had first run on him. He has an exciting future ahead and could well step up to a mile this season.”
Meanwhile, Andrew Balding remarked positively on Cool Hoof Luke's performance, although he suggested a return to six furlongs for future outings. “He ran well, but seven furlongs may stretch him at this stage. We’ll likely drop him back to six, with the Mill Reef Stakes a possible aim,” Balding confirmed.
Aomori City’s victory in the HKJC World Pool Vintage Stakes highlights his burgeoning talent and sets the stage for an exciting season ahead in the two-year-old division.